diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/home_timeline/index.js b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/home_timeline/index.js
index be1e2d78c6..a4bc60face 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/features/home_timeline/index.js
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/features/home_timeline/index.js
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
 
 const mapStateToProps = state => ({
   hasUnread: state.getIn(['timelines', 'home', 'unread']) > 0,
-  hasFollows: state.getIn(['accounts_counters', state.getIn(['meta', 'me']), 'following_count']) > 0,
 });
 
 @connect(mapStateToProps)
@@ -27,7 +26,6 @@ export default class HomeTimeline extends React.PureComponent {
     dispatch: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     intl: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
     hasUnread: PropTypes.bool,
-    hasFollows: PropTypes.bool,
     columnId: PropTypes.string,
     multiColumn: PropTypes.bool,
   };
@@ -60,17 +58,9 @@ export default class HomeTimeline extends React.PureComponent {
   }
 
   render () {
-    const { intl, hasUnread, hasFollows, columnId, multiColumn } = this.props;
+    const { intl, hasUnread, columnId, multiColumn } = this.props;
     const pinned = !!columnId;
 
-    let emptyMessage;
-
-    if (hasFollows) {
-      emptyMessage = <FormattedMessage id='empty_column.home.inactivity' defaultMessage='Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.' />;
-    } else {
-      emptyMessage = <FormattedMessage id='empty_column.home' defaultMessage="You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users." values={{ public: <Link to='/timelines/public'><FormattedMessage id='empty_column.home.public_timeline' defaultMessage='the public timeline' /></Link> }} />;
-    }
-
     return (
       <Column ref={this.setRef}>
         <ColumnHeader
@@ -91,7 +81,7 @@ export default class HomeTimeline extends React.PureComponent {
           scrollKey={`home_timeline-${columnId}`}
           loadMore={this.handleLoadMore}
           timelineId='home'
-          emptyMessage={emptyMessage}
+          emptyMessage={<FormattedMessage id='empty_column.home' defaultMessage='Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.' values={{ public: <Link to='/timelines/public'><FormattedMessage id='empty_column.home.public_timeline' defaultMessage='the public timeline' /></Link> }} />}
         />
       </Column>
     );
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/bg.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/bg.json
index 240e3725e7..eeded31b71 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/bg.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/bg.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/defaultMessages.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/defaultMessages.json
index 7e8447e4f6..99ff3b35b5 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/defaultMessages.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/defaultMessages.json
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@
         "id": "empty_column.home.inactivity"
       },
       {
-        "defaultMessage": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+        "defaultMessage": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
         "id": "empty_column.home"
       },
       {
@@ -1408,4 +1408,4 @@
     ],
     "path": "app/javascript/mastodon/features/video/index.json"
   }
-]
\ No newline at end of file
+]
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
index b0dbc46bdd..12efe0e0cb 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/en.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/eo.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/eo.json
index 1ccd2b817f..8f90bdf784 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/eo.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/eo.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/fi.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/fi.json
index 425b3d82a2..0f65545955 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/fi.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/fi.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/hu.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/hu.json
index 7b9c1b293c..2296ea71ef 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/hu.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/hu.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",
diff --git a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/th.json b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/th.json
index f3ec9c5324..4339d14975 100644
--- a/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/th.json
+++ b/app/javascript/mastodon/locales/th.json
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
   "emoji_button.travel": "Travel & Places",
   "empty_column.community": "The local timeline is empty. Write something publicly to get the ball rolling!",
   "empty_column.hashtag": "There is nothing in this hashtag yet.",
-  "empty_column.home": "You aren't following anyone yet. Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
+  "empty_column.home": "Your home timeline is empty! Visit {public} or use search to get started and meet other users.",
   "empty_column.home.inactivity": "Your home feed is empty. If you have been inactive for a while, it will be regenerated for you soon.",
   "empty_column.home.public_timeline": "the public timeline",
   "empty_column.notifications": "You don't have any notifications yet. Interact with others to start the conversation.",